Nascar Rules

[the H team]

Crews work to repair the barriers after an on-track incident that brought out a red- during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International

[the H team]

Smoke pours from the No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet, driven by Danica Patrick, after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International.​

[the H team]

A multiple-car accident brought out a red on Lap 57 of 90 of the Cheez-It 355 on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Ryan Newman's No. 31 Chevrolet and Michael McDowell's No. 95 Ford took the brunt of the damage in a wreck that occurred on Turn 5 (otherwise known as the outer loop) of the 3.4-mile road course.

[the H team]

Cole Whitt, driver of the No. 26 Bully Hill Vineyards Toyota, climbs from his car after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International.

[the H team]

Michael McDowell, driver of the No. 95 K-Love Ford, and Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, are involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International. The incident caused a red- period for repairs to a section of armco barrier.

[the H team]

TONY STEWART INVOLVED IN FATAL SPRINT CAR INCIDENT

Three-time Sprint Cup champion was racing at Canandaigua Motorsports ParkRELATED: Complete coverage of Tony Stewart incident

A sprint car racing incident involving NASCAR driver Tony Stewart left another driver with fatal injuries at an upstate New York dirt track Saturday night.

Ontario County (New York) Sheriff Philip C. Povero confirmed the news early Sunday morning to local news reporters, saying the other driver was declared dead on his arrival to a local hospital. The sheriff identified Stewart but did not issue the other driver's name as family members were being notified.




A YouTube video of the incident showed Stewart racing to the low side of Kevin Ward Jr., of Port Leyden, New York. The two cars made contact, sending Ward's No. 13 car bounding off the Turn 2 wall.

After Ward spun to a stop with a flat right-rear tire, the driver quickly dismounted to confront Stewart, walking out onto the track and pointing at the veteran driver's No. 14. Stewart's car revved and fishtailed, catching Ward with its right-rear tire and sending him a sizable distance from the crash site.

Ward was prone and motionless on the track as safety workers came to his aid. Povero said that, "people that witnessed it were horrified. They were extremely shocked."

Povero said that both Stewart and track officials were "cooperating fully" with the ongoing investigation. According to the sheriff, no charges are pending. He said Stewart "is very upset and confirmed his continuing cooperation."

A Stewart-Haas Racing spokesperson issued the following statement that read: "A tragic accident took place last night during a sprint car race in which Tony Stewart was participating. Tony was unhurt, but a fellow competitor lost his life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We’re still attempting to sort through all the details and we appreciate your understanding during this difficult time."

ABC News in Rochester, New York reported that Ward's parents released the following statement: "We appreciate the prayers and support we are receiving from the community, but we need time to grieve and wrap our heads around all of this."

Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, lined up 12th in the 22-car field for the 25-lap "A" Main for the touring Empire Super Sprints series. Ward started sixth. First place paid $1,500.

Canandaigua Motorsports Park, a half-mile dirt track on the Ontario County Fairgrounds, said through its Facebook page that the remainder of Saturday night's program had been canceled. The track is approximately 50 miles north-northwest of Watkins Glen International, site of Sunday's Cheez-It 355 at The Glen for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Stewart returned to sprint-car racing July 18 at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Michigan with a win nearly a year after a season-ending crash at Southern Iowa Speedway on Aug. 5 severely injured his right leg, which required multiple surgeries.

[the H team]

STEWART TO BE REPLACED BY SMITH AT WATKINS GLEN

Stewart-Haas Racing VP of Competition: 'He's a brother to me'RELATED: Complete coverage of Tony Stewart incident
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Stewart-Haas Racing VP of Competition, Greg Zipadelli, announced Sunday morning that Tony Stewart will not race in Sunday's Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.

Stewart was involved in a sprint car racing incident on Saturday night that left driver Kevin Ward Jr. with fatal injuries at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, a half-mile dirt track on the Ontario County Fairgrounds.
"We know that it's just an unbelievable tragedy," Zipadelli said. "Our hearts go out to obviously Kevin and his family, thoughts and prayers. This is a very tough, very emotional time for everybody, his family, our family at Stewart-Haas, Tony Stewart.






"So with that being said, we feel that as a group, Tony will not drive today. Regan Smith is on his way up."
Smith, who finished 17th in Saturday's NASCARNationwide Series Zippo 200 at The Glen, had returned home to the Charlotte area. The JR Motorsports Nationwide championship contender ran six Sprint Cup races last year. In four previous Cup starts at the Glen, he has a best finish of ninth in 2012.



"NASCAR has approved for him to get in the race car today," Zipadelli said. "They're going to do everything they can to help us expedite getting his seat, (getting) him comfortable. So that's what we've been working on this morning and trying to get executed. Get Regan here and obviously anything we can do for Tony and everybody else is just like I said, it's an emotional time right now."
After a hectic morning, Smith arrived at about 11:55 a.m. ET, flying up with Hendrick Motorsportsowner Rick Hendrick.

"I was actually at home in North Carolina," Smith said. "I went back after the Nationwide race yesterday. Got up and then got a call from my crew chief Ryan Pemberton, said they may need some help up here today and went to the shop as soon as I knew that. So left the shop at probably 9:30. Fortunate enough that Mr. H. was still coming up here and (I) was able to hitch a ride up here with him and get up here on time. That was pretty much the events of the morning."

Prior taking his current role at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012, Zipadelli joined NASCAR's premier series in 1999 as a crew chief for a rookie Stewart at Joe Gibbs Racing. Over 10 seasons together, Stewart and Zipadelli won 33 races and two series championships in 2002 and 2005. Zipadelli joined Stewart's organization after three seasons and a win with Joey Logano.
Zipadelli said Stewart sitting out of Sunday's race was a group decision, and he expressed his support for his driver, owner and friend.
"It was a few of us that were in there, just supporting him," Zipadelli said. "He's a brother to me. He's way more than a boss. He's going through a tough time. It's emotional for him. We as a group support him, feel like he's doing the right thing and we'll move on from this. I support Tony Stewart. I think I've shown that over the last 18 years."
With five races to go until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup starts, Stewart has yet to win and clinch a spot in NASCAR's playoffs. As the all-time win leader at Watkins Glen with five, Sunday's race appeared to be a good chance for him to go to Victory Lane. Zipadelli said that neither the Chase nor Stewart's success on the road course factored into Stewart's decision to sit out the event.
"…honestly that is the furthest thing from our minds right now," Zipadelli said. "We're thinking of Kevin's family and Tony and the people at our company. That's something that when we get home on Monday, we'll have to look at, evaluate and go through that and make decisions. Today is all about doing what we can today. To get through today and do it the best we can as a group and try to do it in the right way so we haven't even crossed the bridge yet."

By qualifying for the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen, Stewart is still eligible to make the Chase if he returns to the No. 14 ride next week at Michigan International Speedway.

[electric_viking]

Crazy crazy incident involving stewart. That driver should not have gotten out of his car and run down the middle of the track. He was asking for trouble.

The Newman/McDowell crash was wild too.

[heartgirl99]

Crazy crazy incident involving stewart. That driver should not have gotten out of his car and run down the middle of the track. He was asking for trouble.

The Newman/McDowell crash was wild too.

it looked like he was walking toward stewart's car to confront him.

[electric_viking]

he was. stewart caused him to crash that's why he was upset.

[rock lobster]

[the H team]

Welcome race fans to Michigan for the Pure Michigan 400 where we have pole sitter for today's race

[the H team]

The top 10 racers are

Jeff Gordon
Joey Logano
Carl Edwards
Brian Vickers
Brad Keselowski
Kevin Harvick
Paul Menard
Austin Dillon
Jamie McMurray
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

[the H team]

Other favs line up as
Greg-11th
Ryan-12th
Danica 14th
Kasey-15th
Kurt-16th
Matt-18th
Denny-21st
Kyle B-24th
Dale Jr-25th
Jimmy-30th

[the H team]

TONY STEWART WILL NOT RACE AT MICHIGAN

Jeff Burton will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet this weekend

Tony Stewart will not drive this weekend in the Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway. Instead, Jeff Burton will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing at the 2-mile track.

According to a team release, the driver change only pertains to the Michigan race. Stewart's plans for the upcoming Sprint Cup Series schedule have yet to be determined.

Stewart did not race last Sunday at Watkins Glen as Nationwide Series regular Regan Smithpiloted the No. 14 Chevrolet to a 37th-place finish. Stewart was on the initial entry list for Michigan that was released on Monday.


Stewart was involved in a sprint car racing incident on Saturday night that resulted in driver Kevin Ward Jr. suffering fatal injuries at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, a half-mile dirt track on the Ontario County Fairgrounds. The investigation regarding the incident is ongoing.

Earlier this week, Stewart canceled plans to race at Plymouth Speedway (in Indiana) this weekend. In fact, Stewart's racing plans outside NASCAR have been canceled and will not resume until further notice.